Wood fuel market in Yemen

Earlier Report Observations

Yemen's wood fuel market volume expanded from 574.7 thousand m³ in 2018 to 673.1 thousand m³ in 2023, demonstrating steady annual growth of approximately 3%. This consistent increase was primarily driven by a severe and ongoing shortage of domestic gas and other fuels, a direct consequence of the protracted armed conflict and economic collapse. With salaries unpaid and the formal energy sector crippled, households were forced to adopt wood as their main source of energy for cooking, fundamentally shifting consumption patterns and boosting overall demand.

Specific market developments reinforced this trend. In 2018, new wood markets emerged in Sana'a and other provinces to organize the growing trade. A 2020 government decision centralized the distribution and marketing of oil derivatives through the state-owned Yemen Oil Company, which further constrained the supply of alternative fuels. The long-standing halt in liquefied gas production, coupled with the deterioration of the national oil sector, eliminated viable alternatives and cemented wood fuel's role in the energy mix. The global energy crisis triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022 exacerbated the situation, raising transportation costs and wood prices while stimulating even greater market activity in the capital.

Throughout the period, the market's expansion was underpinned by these structural shortages. Even discussions in 2023 about reviving Yemen's liquefied natural gas exports did not provide immediate relief, as the domestic energy supply crisis, fueled by continuous conflict, persisted. The wood fuel market's growth directly reflected the population's adaptation to the absence of conventional energy sources, with no significant reversal in sight by the end of 2023.

Production wood fuel in Yemen

In kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Top producers of wood fuel, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood fuel, 2017-2020

Yemen's wood fuel production has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 610.5 thousand cubic meters of wood fuel, marking a gradual rise of 3.1% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 9.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Yemen in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Exports wood fuel from Yemen

Exports in kind, m³

In 2020, Yemen's wood fuel export volume stood at 62 cubic meters, remaining relatively stable year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports surged by 3 900%, translating to an average annual growth rate of 242.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Yemen in kind, 2017-2020, m³

From 2017 to 2020, the export market structure was highly concentrated, with Oman accounting for 100.0% of total exports in kind.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Yemen in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Yemen exported 1 thousand US dollars worth of wood fuel in 2020, showing minimal change compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports increased by 1 104.2%, equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 129.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Yemen in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017–2020, virtually all of Yemen's wood fuel exports in value terms were linked to Oman, which held a 100.0% share of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Yemen in value, 2017-2020

Imports wood fuel to Yemen

Imports in kind, m³

The import market displayed volatility during the observed period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 7.1-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Yemen imported 1 352 cubic meters of wood fuel, representing a sharp decline of 47.2% compared to 2019. The maximum volume was recorded in 2019 at 2 560 cubic meters, while the largest year-over-year increase occurred in 2019 at 227.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Yemen in kind, 2017-2020, m³

From 2017 to 2020, Malaysia (37.1% of imports in kind), China (20.7% of imports in kind), and Indonesia (7.4% of imports in kind) were the key partners for Yemen's wood fuel imports, together accounting for 65.3% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Yemen in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

The import market exhibited volatility over the observed period. Imports hit their lowest point in 2018 and reached their highest in 2020, reflecting a 22-fold gap. In 2020, Yemen's wood fuel imports amounted to 2 072 thousand US dollars, corresponding to a year-over-year uptick of 345.5%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 96 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline occurring in 2018 at 87.9% and the largest increase in 2019 at 384.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Yemen in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017–2020, China played the leading role in Yemen's wood fuel imports in value terms, holding a 74.5% share of total flows, while other markets accounted for the remainder.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Yemen in value, 2017-2020